(Authentic). Al-Dhahabī concurred.
I say: al-Masʿūdī’s memory had deteriorated, yet Shuʿbah corroborated him by narrating the report from ʿAmr (1) with similar wording. Abū Dāwūd also transmitted it (083), and its wording will appear under issue (13); with this supporting narration the ḥadith is sound.
His phrase, “naqasū”: In al-Nihāyah it is explained that al-naqs means striking the nāqūs, a long piece of wood that is beaten with a smaller stick; the Christians use it to announce the times of their prayers.
- The adhān was then legislated when an angel taught it to ʿAbd Allah ibn Zayd ibn ʿAbd Rabbih in a dream, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “It is indeed a true vision, if Allah wills.”
ʿAbd Allah ibn Zayd said: “When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered that a bell be struck to gather the people for prayer, I fell asleep and a man carrying a bell passed by me in my dream. I said to him, ‘Servant of Allah, will you sell the bell?’ He asked, ‘What will you do with it?’ I replied, ‘We will use it to call the people to prayer.’ He said, ‘Shall I not guide you to something better than that?’ I said, ‘Indeed, please do.’ He said,
Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest).
Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā Allah, ashhadu an lā ilāha illā Allah (I testify that there is no deity but Allah, I testify that there is no deity but Allah).
Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan rasūl Allah, ashhadu anna Muḥammadan rasūl Allah (I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).
Ḥayya ʿalaṣ-ṣalāh, ḥayya ʿalaṣ-ṣalāh (Come to prayer, come to prayer).
Ḥayya ʿalal-falāḥ, ḥayya ʿalal-falāḥ (Come to success, come to success).
Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar; lā ilāha illā Allah (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; there is no deity but Allah).
He then stepped back a short distance and said, ‘When the prayer is about to commence you should say…’